subentries
general advice and reflections on the children's rearing and education8
prefers Amer. education for8
clothing sent to Boston for use of sons5
writing a legible hand emphasized5
French, Latin, and Greek as the “useful” languages for4
old clothes worn by sons4
effects of polite learning on virtue feared3
“[T]here are few who make the Choice of Hercules. That my Children may follow his Example, is my earnest prayer”2
actions for the public good beyond individual satisfactions recommended to2
advises study of Cicero, Erasmus, Phaedrus, the Greek Testament, Virgil, Ovid, Horace, Sallust, Tacitus, Livy2
describes methods for developing their literary style2
enjoys correspondence between JQA and AA22
“I must study Politicks and War that my sons may have liberty to study Mathematicks and Philosophy ... in order to give their Children a right to study Painting, Poetry, Musick”2
instruction in drawing and writing proper for amusement and relaxation from studies2
says Europe would “Ruin my Children forever”2
skating, dancing, and riding approved for2
urges them to study Amer. geography2
urges they be taught French2
“you will never be alone, with a Poet in your Poket”2
“above all Things, preserve your Innocence, and a pure Conscience”1
advice on education of AA21
advises AA2 to learn needlework1
advises CA to increase his mechanical ability1
advises JQA to acquire “A Taste for Literature and a Turn for Business”1
advises JQA to read newspapers and history1
advises JQA to study ancient history1
advises TBA to become a physician1
“all the End of study is to make you a good Man and a useful Citizen”1
“A Variety of Languages will do no harm unless you should get an habit of attending more to Words than Things”1
“Boys! Work you Rogues and be free. You will never have so hard Work to do as Papa has had”1
cautions JQA on reading Bampfylde Moore Carew1
commended by AA for precepts and instructions to1
cultivation of knowledge, virtue, and simplicity brings usefulness, and consequently happiness1
didactic character of letters to1
does “not know how to do, without one of my sons at least with me”1
education in own country preferred1
“Every Thing in Life should be done with Reflection, and Judgment, even the most insignificant Amusements .... arranged in subordination to the great Plan of Happiness, and Utility”1
“Geography, Geometry and Fractions ... are Useful sciences, and ... Branches of the Mathematicks ..., the most profitable and the most satisfactory of all human Knowledge”1
“I desire I may never again have the Weakness to bring a Child to Europe”1
independence as the proper end of education1
“it is nature not the Ancients that you are to imitate and Copy”1
JA: “I think it of more Consequence to have Children than to make them gay and genteel”1
keeping of a diary and of a letterbook enjoined upon1
legacy to, will be America's freedom and opportunity1
“My Children will have nothing but their Liberty and the Right to catch Fish”1
“My Children will not be so well left by their father as he was by his”1
on relationship of brother and sister1
plan to put CA in school and bring AA2 and TBA to Europe1
poetry earnestly recommended1
reading the best writers and the formation of style1
recommends CA and JQA obtain Hebrew dictionary and grammar1
response to AA2-Tyler romance1
sends “perpetual almanack” to JQA1
takes JQA and CA to Europe1
“the greatest pleasure I had in life, the society of my children”1
urges JQA to study histories of revolutions1
wants them to transcribe AA's letters1
See also: under the names of the children